Good morning from San Francisco where we're a bit off schedule. The body clock woke us up on central time, so we're ahead of the game on pacific time. Looking out across the city it's still dark. The picture you see was taken upon arrival yesterday.
My wife, Mrs. A., is with me this weekend. We're making this a combo football and wedding anniversary trip. That being said, I will be away from the blog until later in the day. The plan as it currently exists includes Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, TBA after that.
We will leave tomorrow morning for Fresno.
Twitter traffic from Ole Miss players indicates a safe arrival in Fresno early this morning, around 2 a.m. CST.
I'm sure most folks saw the Dan Jones letter yesterday, the first public response from the Ole Miss chancellor regarding the Forward Rebels campaign against the administration.
Turf Guy suggests an informal poll, not a bad idea.
Last week Ole Miss alumni president Bill May and M Club Alumni, in a letter signed by Broc Kreitz and Archie Manning, spoke out against the Forward Rebels campaign. Do you agree with Jones that the campaign against the administration is not civil and is the wrong venue for debate, and what is your confidence level in the administration's ability to unite the fan base and move forward successfully with its $150 million fund-raising effort?
Leave your thoughts below.
JB FLORIDA
As to "...administration's abilty to unite ..base"? One party cannot solve a disagreement when there is no desire by the other party - and, to me at least, it appears the Forward Rebels (whoever these anonymous persons may be) group has taken the "my way or the highway" position. Moreover,though they purport to represent the view of true rebel fans, they don't represent this one and as long as they choose to hide we don't know who they are.
Finally, ""...move forward with...fund raising effort.."? The success of Ole Miss athletics programs depends much more on such efforts than on the changes these faceless folks demand. The campaign will, eventually achieve it's desired results. Perhaps not in the desired time frame and certainly with a less broad base of support.
As an aside, as a miltary veteran with near 30 years service in law enforcement, I realize that what little service I've provided helped to insure that folks could speak their mind. I would hope that my behavior has not inspired any of my family, friend, or neighbors to become involved with such anonymous group behavior. One of the values I tried to instill in my children was, "If you have something to say, don't send another to say it for you."
I'm glad the Forward Rebels group got Jones attention, but I think they need to stand down now and see if he listened. I hope the coaches and admin are given some time to not Bleep up anything else. We still love Ole Miss, but the North endzone will stay bleachers for a few extra years because of Dr. Jones.
Does anyone ever agree with Dan Jones, or does he just do what he wants?
My confidence level with the current administration uniting the fan base is at about the temperature of Antarctica. Being that the current administration has lost around 90% of the fan base with all the changes. Add 5% of currently enrolled students that probably do support the administraion because they don't know any better. Those students are not part of the working society yet, and do not belong to the University Alumni.....so no help from them. The remaining 5% that care neither way about the traditions of the University cannot deliver on such a fund-raising effort. Good luck trying to get blood from a turnip.
Duece, thank you for your thoughts and for your service to our country.
Also, I have followed each ad, and facebook post from the group Forward Rebels... I have seen nothing uncivil or unseemly. One sees much worse on here. Furthermore, if Jones and his crew did not take the attitude they have, it may not have resulted in this.
They are highly paid public officials are they not? The people have every right to ask hard questions as well as demand results. How someone can condemn a group for what I have seen as a clean campaign is beyond me...I tell you I lost some respect for Archie. BTW, this statement about "it will get ugly"? Please elaborate mr jones, was this directed at you from this organization or just some random guy? It could also mean many things...the least of which I would think is any kind of physical harm, may be he is referring to a sharp decline in season ticket sales, that could be considered ugly couldnt it?
I didnt spend over a year of my life fighting in some hell hole on the other side of the world so I could come home and listen to highly paid public officials whine about being called out by ads in a newspaper. Thats part of what makes this country great buddy, learn to deal with it and grow from it or retire and play gold the rest of your life.